Apparatus for effecting electrolysis.



A. DOHMEN.

APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECIROLYSIS.

' APPLICATION min ate. 1. 1914.

1,272,397. mm July 16, mm

ARTHUR DOHMEN, 0F COLOGNE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT F. KRAJSE, OZ?BUFFALO, NEVJ' YORK.

APPARATUS FOR EFEECTING ELECTRGLYSIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16.1%18.

Application filed December 1, 1914. Serial No. 875,036.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My. invention relates to the construction of apparatus for effectingelectrolysis, of the type known as filteupress batteries enstoma'rilyused for the production of oxygen and hydrogen by the electrolysis ofwater; and it has for its object to provide elements that are easilyassembled, easily. constructed, and more especially are sufiicientlyrigid to maintain thegas and liquid conduits in reg,- ister whenassembled, as well as to quickly obtain this register during theassembling operation.

The structure is such as to enable me to use pure nickel bi-polar oruni-polar elec trodes, which on account of the structure aresufiiciently thin, 2'. 6., about one-half mm. to permit of the "use ofpure nickel, notwithstanding the cost of this metal, but heavierelectrodes, such as sheet iron, nickel plated,

may be used, as at present.-

Such a filter-press battery may have as many cells as desired, and inpractice such batteries have from one hundred to two hun- .dred cellsheld together by strong clamping means, the asbestos diaphragmsbeing-held in place between adjacent cells. irrtypes now used, by thestrong clamping pressure exerted on the cast ironframes. The dia phragmshave near their upper edges openings for registering with the gaspassages in the frames, and these dlaphrag'ms often sag, due toinsuflicient or uneven pressure. causing the openings to fall out ofregister with the gas passages causing the gases to mix. they leakelectrolyte. due to capillary action. and lose gas through the upperedges. By the structure herein described and illustrated thesedisadvantages are overcome.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are similarly designated-Figure l is an elevation of a dia 'ihragm and its frame;

Fig. 2 is a section thereof and of an adjacent sheet metal electrode;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a modification through the left-hand gasconduit;

Fig. 4: is a like vertical section through the right hand gas conduit;

Fig. 5 is avertical section through a modi- I fication in which theelectrodes are supported in a frame, while the diaphragms are clampedbetween the adjacent electrode frames.

The frames shown in Figs. 1 and each consistof two portions, a and. 6,each portion conslstmg of a rectangular, or other suitably shaped, frameof wrought iron, fiber, or

hard rubber. --The upper side of the frame F) is providedwith amt-awayport-ion (Z entirely through the frame at the left hand side, Fig. 1,while the upper side of the frame a is provided with a like cut-awayportion 0 at the right hand side. The frame 7) has a passage e throughit which registers with the cut-away portion 0 of frame a while theframe a has a passage 7 through it, registering with the cut-awayportion (i'of frame 6, that is to say, the two sides are alike inshape,-but reversed.

The lower portion of each frame half a and Z) is provided with passagesg for electrolyte or water, arranged to register with one another whenthe frames are assez-nbled. These passages are oval or elongated, asshown, and are connected with the her by short narrow slots h.

The diaphragm i of asbestos or other suitable-material is clampedbetween the two portions or. and b of the frame under pressure, and theportions are then riveted, screwed or otherwise secured together to forma single frame carrying thediaphragm.

Of course it is understood that before placing theitwo frame portions (1and '72 in register, a suitable waterproof solution. such as rubbersolution. -is placed either on the fabric-at its edges. or on the frameparts. in order to be sure to destroy the capillarltv of the fabric atits edges and prevent the solution from creeplng through at the 101ml.These composite diapl'iragms are arranged cell chamalternately withmetal electrodes A, preferably of sheet nickel, which electrodes areprovided with perforations l. in register with the perforations c, f,and 5/, in the diaphragm frame, and when placed in position theelectrode forms one side wall for a cutaway portion 0 or (I, and theframe member, a or 1) forms the other side wall of the cut .away portiona or (i, so that a chamber is formed between a electrode.

- Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown a frame Z, of wrought iron,hard rubber, or fiber,- having around its middle, or only on twoopposite frame sides two spaced flanges m m, made of any suitablematerial, for example, nickel-plated iron. Such frames are usually madeof four sides with mitered ends, which are welded together by means of awelding torch when made of wrought iron, but when made of fiber or hardrubber they may be connected together in any usual andconvenient-manner. Each side of the frame Z, or eachof two oppositesides is provided with the spaced 'fianges m andthe diaphragm isstretched between the sides of the frame and secured between the spacedflanges m by means of rivets, or by simply crimping down or forcing theflanges m together.

The frames 1 are provided with water passages g and h, and gas passagese' and f, as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

In this manner I attain adiaphragm al ways stretched tight, andsupported in such frame member and an a manner as to prevent any leakageof electrolyte by reason of capillary actlon, and

consequently avoid the extreme care otherwise necessary in packing thejoints when assemblingthe apparatus.

In this case also I use in connection with the diaphragms thinsheet-metal bi-pola-r electrodes suitably insulated "from [the frames; Y

'In Fig. 5 I have shown another form. In this form the electrode issupported in a framdsimilar to that shown'in Figs. .3 and gt fland saidframe a. is provided with an.

"electrode o'composed of one or more layers of metallic screen, forexample, nickel-wire screen, preferably but not necessarily of severalthicknesses, or ofperforated sheets of nickel, clamped or rivetedbetween .the spaced flanges m in the same manner as the diaphragm inFigs. 3 and' l.

The only difference between this frame a and the frame Zis that thereare two gas chambers d and a? comnnmicating with the passage 7 andtwo,gas chambers 0 and communicating with the passage 6 one on each. side ofthe electrode. -The diaphragm p is clamped between adjacent electrodeframes n in any suitable manner. I

,1 By making the frames of wrought iron,

rubber, .or fiber, I attain a decided advantage over the cast iron framecustomarily in use, the advantage consisting in enabling me to make theframes thinner. thereby decreasing the thickness of the cells and theinternal resistance. They are also more yielding,

thereby preventing breakage in assembling.

3. In an electrolytic apparatus of the filter press type, thecombination ofa diaphragm frame, parallel flanges within the framespaced apart, a diaphragm secured between the flanges, and framelesssheet metal electrodes clamped between and alternating with the framesand insulated therefrom.

4. A frameless, sheet nickel bi-polar electrode less than one millimeterin thickness, and diaphragm supporting'frames between which saidelectrodes are clamped.

5. In an electrolytic apparatus of the filter press type, thecombination with diaphragm frames, each having a diaphragm mountedtherein to divide the interior of the frame into two compartments andhaving two transverse gas passages through the top thereof, one of saidpassages being connected with the compartment on one side of thediaphragm by an enlarged, laterally extending chamber and theother ofsaid. passages being similarly connected to the other compartment,andelectrodes alternatingwith each frame having holes registering withsaid passages.

6. A cell'member comprising a frame of suitable shape, flangesprojecting into the space bounded by said frame, and a diaphragm securedbetween said flanges, whereby when anumber of such members are clampedtogether the diaphragnis and flange members will not be containedbetween the joints of the members, said member having a gas chamber oneach side of the diaphragm communicating with separate gas passagesthrough the member.

7. An electrolytic cell of the filter press type having alternatingelements constitut ing electrode members an d diaphragm menr here, oneof said elements constituting a frame; rigid parallel flanges on theframe within the frame opening and contained between the faces of saidframe, and a member secured between said flanges.

8. An electrolytic cell of the filter press type having alternatingelements constituting electrode members and diaphragm memlel flangeswithin the-frame opening, and a bers, one of said elements constitutinga member held Within said opening between frame, parallel flanges onopposite sides of said parallel flanges in crimped connection 15 theframe and rigidly connected thereto therewith.

5 within the frame opening and contained bea In testimony that I claimthe foregoing tween the faces of said frame, and a member as myinvention, I havesignedmy name in Whose edges afrle held in swagedconnection presence of two subscribing witnesses;

between said an es.

9. In an electrol ytic cell of the filter press ARTHUR DOHMEN' .9 type,alternating elements constituting elec- Witnesses:

trode members and diaphragm members, one HENRY :ORTH, J r., I of saidelements constituting a frame, paral- A. M. PARKING.

